
        from THE COMPLEX VISION OF PHILO St JOHN                     FRIAR2
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             "It's called Berlaine," the man said. "No one really knows much
        about  it, although  there  have  been many theories.  That's a nice
        looking melon you have there."
             Philo  felt  his  face  flush. "I'm afraid I stole it," he said.
            The man loosened his knapsack and swung it  to  the  ground.  He
        opened  it  and  brought  forth  a  long, crusty loaf of bread and a
        sizable sector of cheese.  "These may not be stolen," he said.  "But
        I'm  sure they'll taste as good.  So if you'll share your melon with
        me, I'll share my bread and cheese with you."
             "I'll be glad to," Philo said. "But I don't  understand.  There
        are melons like this growing all over the place."
             "You're an American, aren't you?"
             "Yes. Or rather, I was an American. I don't know what I am now."
             The  man pointed to an large oak tree that stood by the side of
        the road. "That looks like a good place," he said.  He picked up his
        knapsack  and  without  waiting  for Philo, walked  to  the tree and
        placed the bread and the cheese upon a flat rock.
             "Are you a priest or something?" Philo asked.
             "I was a priest," he said. "Once upon a time in  Winnipeg.  Now
        
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